The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-02-03

Manasseh Cutler were leading spirits in the
Ohio Company. To plant colony without SOW
ing in 1t the desire for learning and the fear Of
God would have been TO Cutler and his friends
an impossible omission.
II was Cutler who did the careful work before
the Congressional Committees that secured the
purchase Of the Ohio Company for the Directors,
and 1t was Cutler who inspired the immortal
clause in the ordinance Of 17s7 prohibiting
slavery in the Northwestern Territory.
Rev. Manasseh Cutler was born in Connect.
cut, May g. 17&2. He was studious boy, nnd
was graduated from Yale College with high
honor in 176S. He studied law md practiced II
for short time, but in 176o began to prepare
for the ministry, which he entered in l77l. He
was the pastor Of one church in Hamilton,
Mass, for ffty-two years. He was Q preacher
Of uncommon ability and force. find writ
ten Of him by Q contemporary clergyman:
His public discourses were prepared In Gospel
style, but with studied accuracy argumenta-
tive energy and persuasive pathOs He could
be son Of thunder ond Q son of consolation"
While very young man, Dr.. Cutler became Q
devoted student Of science, and his reputation
was only second 70 that of Benjamin Franklin's.
He prepared paper on botany which the Amer
lean Society Of Arts and Sciences published In
their memoirs, and which DR.. Franklin himself
had republished In the Columbian Aagastns Of
Philsdelphia. Soon after the beginning Of the
revolutionary war DR.. Cutler became also
the town had gone with the armies, and DR..
Cutler filed his place, and won distinction a.
doctor Of medicine.
A great many degrees and honors were con.
ferred upon DR.. Cutler Of Q civic and literary
nature. His acquaintance was vast ond valua-
BILE, for he served two years as Q chaplain In thu
Continental armies, and became personally
known to most Of the distinguished ofnoers, and
was on the best Of terms with the foremost men
Of his day.
When o number Of his old army friends organ.
lied the Ohio Company for the purpose Of plant
ing colony In the West, he was heartily In SYM
pathy with their aims and efforts Elected
director Of the company, he was soon appointed
its agent to negotiate for the purchase of lands
from Congress. In June, l787, he went TO New
York upon his mission, where he not only made
tho purchase % We know, on the best Of terms,
nihcent talents, in Incorporating into the or
ganic law Of the whole Northwest Territory the
law Of his own State. He prevented tho exten.
sion Of slavery and provided for the free school
system that has been the blessing and safeguard
Of the West and Of the Nation.
DR.. Cutler left q valuable Journal, which II 10
hoped may some day be given to the public.
While his negotiations were pending with Con.
gress, he visited Benjamin Franklin, and his
description OF the old philosopher; Parton says,
is the best account Of the sort written at the
time In the summer Of 1913 Dr.. Cutler visited
Marietta to attend . meeting Of the Directors
of the Ohio Company. He left Hamilton In .
sulky July 81, and reached the mouth Of the
Mushingum August 10. He vas present at the
opening Of the first court held in the Tori.
tory, and preached several times. He thought
at one time OF moving his family to Marietta,
but afterward found that no could not do 20.
Shortly after the defeat Of the Indians BY
point Dr. Cutler Judge Of the Supreme Court
in the Territory, but he declined the commits
sion. In 1900 DR.. Cutler was elected TO Con-
gress, and was reelected IN 1909. His own peo-
pie held him In high esteem, and regarded him
as man of uncommon sbility. He was y Fed.
eralist in politics. Or. Cutler was not one Of
the pioneers himself, but two Of his sons were
among the early settlers. DR.. Cutler was man
Of hne personal appearance He WAS above the
common stature, and had IN ereot, dignined
carriage. His complexion was Light, and he had
eyes of engaging clearness and brightness. His
manners were gentlemanly, his conversation
easy and Intelligent, his mental endowments
high" He died July " iass, aged eishtyons
years.
In discourse after his death. by benjamin.
Wadsworth, d. D., II was ssid: IAN who en-
tcyed the privilege Of an scauaintancs with Rev.
DR.. Cutler knew that nature had been liberal Of
her gifts, enriching IN elegant form with pom
etrating and enterprisins mind. capacitated for
literary and scientific attainments, and with tai
ente formed TO shine on the public stage Of life.
His usme will stand enrolled ON the List Of the
early uterau."
The FIRST person who was regularly engaged In
the mercantile business In the Northwest Terri
tory was Dudley Woodbridge, Esq, the grand
father Of Hon. Geo. n Woodbridge, Of Marietta.
David Woodbridge was from Connecticut and
was descended from the nrst graduate Of Hsr-
ward College. His grandson devoted much time
70 the study Of carly history and has all Of the
books and papers of Dudley Woodbridge. He
10 also the possessor of more fresh and accurate
information concerning the Blennerhassetts than
any one now living, and probably has the only
authentic likeness Of Mrs. Blennerhassett In ex,
tstence.
A few weeks ago Mr.. Woodbridge discovered
the old wcll that was within old Fort Harmar.
An old bucket, pewter plate and two scalping
knives were found at the bottom Of the well.
In talking OF the early merchants, Mr.. Wood
bridge said: II find that the earliest merchants
were Dudley Woodbridge, Sr., Charles Green, 3.
J. Metgs, Joseph Lincoln, Abner Lord, Benz. ].
Gilman, Dudley Woodbridge, Jr, VIM. Skinner,
Herman Blennerhassett.
"Where did the merchants buy their goodss'
"Chiehy east Of the mountains. have In my
possession the original invoices Of the rst store
goods ever brought 10 Ohio. The accounts were
expressed in pounds. shillings ard pence, the
esticles most In demand we're powder, shot
leads qtnts. tobaneoS rum. whisky, dsh-hooks,
shoes, Woea hs1s. sptnning wheels, irons, crock
eyN naila GlaaA ~ snn0. 0oods were eastaA
ed ecqSeyed W post bosses - ~ UDpog oeio
yivey. thonce " boe& - ~ mouth of6Ae Moo
ktngun. Tbe tgiD6 ooeea took uen1ha.s
WHISKY ~ Uneh ~ eo0An4 ~ oeooy.